Blaze Poll: Should government provide a ‘universal basic income’ to all citizens?

UNITED STATES - CIRCA 1950s: Hand holding out money. (Photo by George Marks/Retrofile/Getty Images)

Mike Opelka

Jun 18, 2017 7:30 am

The concept of a government-provided, basic income for all citizens (also known as “universal basic income” or UBI) was in the spotlight on Saturday’s edition of “Pure Opelka.” The question was raised after host Mike Opelka read about Hawaii’s recent push to consider the idea.

In early May, Hawaii’s legislature unanimously passed a bill authorizing state agencies to investigate how to provide a baseline income for all people in the 50th state in the union.

Former President Bill Clinton’s Secretary of Labor, Robert Reich spoke with liberal magazine Mother Jones on the subject of a “universal basic income, “They are going to need some universal minimum in order to ensure that everybody has at least what they need to avoid dire poverty,” said Reich.

Opelka believes UBI is nothing more than “creeping socialism” and would open the door to ideas like universal basic housing, transportation and food.

Participate in our Blaze Poll on the subject and add your comments below.

To see more from Mike, visit his channel on TheBlaze and listen live to “Pure Opelka” weekdays 7–10 p.m. ET & Saturdays 6–9 a.m. ET, only on TheBlaze Radio Network.